Best Months to Cruise to the Bahamas – And Which You Should Avoid

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When is the best time of the year to plan your cruise to the Bahamas?

Over 3 million people a year sail on a cruise to the Bahamas and there really isn’t a bad time to sail.

However, there are some times that are better than others, depending upon your own individual requirements and priorities.

Let’s look at each of the factors that will influence your choice of which are the best months to cruise to the Bahamas.

When is the Best Weather in the Bahamas?

A huge part of the appeal of a cruise to the Bahamas is that the weather is consistently great for most of the year.

Average temperatures in the Bahamas range from 72 degrees in January to 84 in August.

When you decide to cruise, if your decision is based largely on the weather, will depend on your own personal weather preferences.

If you don’t want to be in the hottest and rainiest season then avoid the summer months, particularly August. The wettest month in the Bahamas is August, which average rainfall is 6.25 inches.

When you consider that the average rainfall for the whole year is 30.5 inches, you can see just how hot and rainy August is compared to the rest of the year.

If you like the higher temperatures avoid December to February when the average temperatures are lower. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 72 degrees.

This is particularly true if you are going to spend time in the ocean. The water temperature can vary quite a bit between the summer and winter months, so if you know that you are definitely going to spend some time with a water-based excursion you might want to avoid the winter.

For example, if we look at the weather on Disney’s Private Island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, we can see that the water temperature ranges from an average of 73 degrees in January and February to an average of 81 and 82 degrees from May to October.

This 10-degree range makes a huge difference.

One thing that you really must be careful of is whatever time of year, be very vigilant and use and reapply Reef Friendly Sunscreen frequently.

Sunburn is really not the memory that you want of your time in The Bahamas. It can happen really quickly so always make sure you keep reapplying sunscreen for yourself and your children.

If the weather is your priority and you are picking the best time to take a cruise to the Bahamas then the months of March to June are likely to be the ones you should concentrate on.

November is also a good month to consider for a cruise to the Bahamas. Temperatures are still an average of 75 degrees and the water temperature is an average of 79 degrees.

Spring Break is a Factor

Want to avoid the Spring Break crowd? Don’t sail to the Bahamas in March or April.

The impact of Spring Break means that not only are you likely to find cruise ships more crowded, but the ports of call in the Bahamas will be impacted as well.

Prices on cruise ships increase at this time – the law of supply and demand.

Is Price the Most Important Thing?

Cruises to the Bahamas offer great value for money and are usually one of the least expensive on a per-night basis.

There are many different cruise lines and ships to choose from which sail on a variety of itineraries to the Bahamas.

As you might expect, the summer months tend to be the most expensive. This is the time that many people want to sail as it falls within the summer school break.

June, July, and August will usually be the peak months for pricing, with some lower rates to be found from mid-August onwards when children start to go back to school.

Fall can be a really good time to cruise, particularly if you are prepared to sail during hurricane season (see below for why you should really consider doing this). September and October see decent weather and less demand so prices are generally lower than peak times.

Consider November for a good combination of price and average temperatures.

Don’t forget about December either. Many cruises have a Holiday theme and this can be a really special time to spend on a cruise.

Of course, if you sail around Christmas and New Year weeks you will find the prices higher as many guests want to celebrate the season with a cruise. Avoid this time if you are looking for a bargain as you are unlikely to find one!

Looking for a bargain-priced cruise to the Bahamas? The most likely time to find one is to sail in January or February. You will experience fewer crowds but also have to deal with lower temperatures.

What About Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season in the Bahamas officially starts on June 1 and ends on 30 November each year.

The peak times for hurricanes in this region are August, September, and October.

Understandably people can be nervous about booking a cruise during hurricane season.

However, cruise lines always have passenger safety as their highest priority. And cruise ships have the technology to be able to sail away from them.

The chances of you being affected by a hurricane on your Bahamian cruise are extremely low. The Captain of the ship will most likely be able to sail well away from the storm.

However, you may be affected by itinerary changes such as not being able to dock in scheduled ports. You may also have a problem even getting to your cruise or leaving to get back home.

This is why you should always look into the option of having travel insurance, either through the cruise line or with an independent insurance provider.

Related: Should I Cruise During Hurricane Season?